Y. Zhang*/**, J. Fournier***, A.H. Bahkali****, K.D. Hyde**/****/*****

*Mushroom Research Centre, 128 Moo3, Bahn Pa Dheng, T. Pa Pae, A. Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, 50150, Thailand
**School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Tasud, Muang,
Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
***Las Muros, Rimont, Ariège F 09420, France
****Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
*****International Fungal Research & Development Centre, The Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China 650034

Y. Zhang, J. Fournier, A. H. Bahkali, K. D. Hyde (2011) Inflatispora, a novel lignicolous genus of Pleosporales from France. Sydowia 63 (2): 287–295.

A collection of dead wood of Rhamnus alpina from the forest floor in Aude, Belcaire, Clot de la Plaine, France, led to the discovery of a new pleosporalean genus. Inflatispora pseudostromatica gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated and compared with genera with similar characteristics. In addition, nurDNA and RPB2 gene sequences are analyzed phylogenetically to investigate its ordinal and/or familial status. Morphologically, Inflatispora resembles species of Nodulosphaeria in having ascospores with an enlarged supramedian cell. However, it is readily distinguished from Nodulosphaeria by the presence of a thick pseudostroma above half-immersed ascomata and a sheath surrounding the whole ascospore versus the terminal ascospore appendages in species of Nodulosphaeria. Both morphological and molecular data support the inclusion of Inflatispora in Massarineae. The familial placement is, however, unclear.
Keywords: Massarineae, new genus, phylogeny, taxonomy